Problems with Activities

[davejc64]

This is not a request for help! I have recently downloaded some activities for various routes that I have, I understand fully that on some extra files are needed (IE stock usually) and have downloaded these as well. Only to find occasionally that some needed stock has been omitted from the list which isn't a major problem as I always run Route Control before attempting to run the activity. But occasionally the problem lies with the the file names used by the activity are different from the ones downloaded or in some cases used on community Cd's, this too is usually easy to rectify simply by altering the consist, it is of course more difficult if the item in question is a loose consist. So could activity creators please check and double check that all stock items are available for download or on community Cd's as named in the activity. I know only to well that that activity building can take an age to master completely, that is one reason I personally have not uploaded any of my own. But generally I truly appreciate the hard work that is involved and would like to thank everybody that makes the effort. I have not named names as I think that would be unfair. Also as this is advice to make life easier for Idiots like me and not a criticism.

[alanch]

This has been discussed many time before.

I think that we would all agree with you about new activities - they should either include stock currently available from the file library, from Community CDs or commercial products.

The problem, however, is that we can't really expect authors to keep updating old activities when any of this stock is withdrawn, or updated using new folders/filenames. Anyone installing these MUST learn enough about MSTS to be able to edit them, or leave them alone.

I believe that both Routeriter and Conbuilder, as well as Activity Analyser, enable you to update static consists. I tend to edit the activity files by hand unless there are loads of changes to make.

[LeeEAS]

Whilst I agree, I have only released two activities so far, only one requires stock from this site, I have made sure that the stock required is available still. However you must consider that after a while some of the required stock may become unavailable, and although I promised myself that if stock was removed I would update the activity, it would think it would be very hard for people that have many activities on UKTS to have the time to keep checking whether the stock is still available, and also if it isn't, then the task of finding a replacement and updating the activity must be time consuming...

[Lad491]

the task of finding a replacement and updating the activity must be time consuming

Your right there Following the mammoth stock withdrawals of earlier years I had to re-do all the activities for Thames Mersey. The replacements ran differently, all my eng file tweaks were lost, in effect I had to start over again. Replacing the stock was the easy bit, getting the activity ( some were 4 and 5 hour jobs ) to run as intended involved many hours of testing and adjustment.

I dont think I would bother again.

[davejc64]

I suggest to anybody who downloads activities, for them to get route riter as this sometimes fixes problems with stock that is named different in activities to what it is named in downloads or on Cd's. I sometimes edit activities anyway usually the player consist. I recently had a problem on one activity where no matter how carefully I drove the couplers kept breaking, so I just Edited the consist an no more problem.

[Lad491]

I recently had a problem on one activity where no matter how carefully I drove the couplers kept breaking

You could just have altered the coupling break strength in the eng file or wag files

Changing stock can, and often will, completely change the way an activity runs and, although it may still work ok, it may not run as the author intended. In fact in my own experience Ive found that changing stock will usually completely wreck all but the very straightforward A to B type activity. Anything which relies on interactions with other traffic will almost certainly meet that in the wrong place. I accept though that sometimes there is no option.

[rufuskins]

This post parallels some of mine, and whilst annoying it seems to me that the adage BUYER/DOWNLOADER BEWARE rules OK.

I see it as a challenge, but i can confirm that when substituting stock beware the law of unintended consequences - see my posts elsewhere!

Ruf

[davejc64]

Anybody know whether different brake types affect the way consists behave? I know at one time real locomotives were dual braked, air and vacuum, but have yet to see this in MSTS. Even then I believe they only used one or the other never both at the same time because by there nature they are incompatible. No doubt somebody will tell me different.

[Lad491]

Up-loaders should also be aware of the incompatibility of some stock especially brake types as this can have some undesired effects as well.

The problem with this is that most people would have probably fixed any problems on their own setup, and then forget to mention in the readme what others must do. I change the brakes on all my stock to automatic, not realistic maybe but simpler. However, differing brakes types dont matter in msts if the consist is ready formed. Msts will ignore any differences. The problem only surfaces if you want to pick up or drop off stock or in shunting activities.

[davejc64]

Some very good and interesting points made.

[simon3747]

Hi I have a question in relation to the above response!

I've written a released a handful of acts now and I seem to have always had a favourable response (well I've had no complaints put it that way but feedback rarely comes back if I'm honest) but I was just wondering what people would like to see in activites in terms of stock, consists and what actually happens?

If it's feasable I'd certainly give it a try. If somebody wants to PM me so that the surprise isn't spoilt for everybody else then I will gladly accept suggestions. I don't claim to be the best by any means but I quite fancy the challenge.

Kind regards

Simon3747

[mendes]

I agree that a lot of downloads for an activity can be a pain, but if you are doing an activity for a route that doesn't have any embedded stock (and there are quite a few of these)
then you don't really have any choice. Similarily if you are doing an activity that is diesel on a steam route or steam on a diesel/electric route then you are going to need quite a few downloads.

I agree that in general, if it is possible to reduce the number of downloads then that is a good thing.
Another point is that a lot of the downloads may be sounds or cabs which many people will already have.

[parsfan]

I downloaded a train this week to use in an activity. I did a check of all stock before I uploaded the activity and discovered the train I had downloaded just a day before was now no longer available. It shows how quickly things can change and how difficult it is to keep activities up to date.

[BobLatimer]

"What we also would like to see is quality activities rather than quantity."

Well, davejc64, I'm not an activity writer but if I was, I'd be more than a little annoyed at that comment. Especially when it comes from someone who has just uploaded his very first activity!

I think several points need to be made here:
- "Quality activities" can mean very different things to different people.
- If "being anal" about stock means trying to use the appropriate stock in an activity instead of just throwing in something that most people are likely to have already, then I, personally, would perfer "anal" activity writers. You may not, but I'm not convinced you're in the majority.
- The activities you download from UKTS are basically "freeware", i.e. you pay nothing extra for them over and above the cost of your Premium membership (if you have one).
- In an ideal world, every activity you download would be brilliant and would use only the stock you already have and it would be appropriate for the activity. But the world is not ideal, or haven't you noticed?

[davejc64]

OK! I seem to have upset someone here, strange that is actually someone who don't actually create activities, but I apologise all the same. Even though I did point out in my first post on this subject that I was not criticising antibody's efforts to do activities! Well I'd just like to say excuse me for having an opinion.